Quantitative risk assessment and cost-effectiveness: two
important requirements for meat inspection programmes
S.C. Hathaway, A.I. McKenzie
Meat Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Wellington
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
1987, 47: 81-83
The need to determine the scientific base and cost-effectiveness
of traditional inspection methods is particularly important in New
Zealand, a major exporter of sheep meat. Risk assessment as applied to
potential human health hazards in a broad sphere can also be adapted to
risk associated with a meat inspection programme. Risk associated with
an export inspection programme aimed at maintaining market access must
include human health, animal health and aesthetic defects.
A quantitative risk assessment model is described for 2 different
inspection methods for liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) in adult sheep.
Unless sensitivity and specificity data are produced, quantitative risk
assessments are statistically invalid. Determination of specificity also
allows cost-benefit analyses to be correctly performed.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
Meat inspection; quantitative risk assessment; sensitivity;
specificity; Fasciola hepatica
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Last Updated 03-05-1997
